Mask



I Aug. 27., Q s. J. GOLDSMITH 2,012,505

MASK

Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2"Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 27, 1935. s. .1. GOLDSMITH MASK Filed Feb. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flllllllfllelllllli .3 J Y.

, ed primarily for Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED- STATES PATENT (OFFICE The present invention relates generally to masks for preventing the transmission and contraction of communicable diseas'esor'other infectious matter. tion relates to that type of mask which is adaptuse by physicians, surgeons, nurses and other sick room attendants, operates to filter germs from the air currents running from the nose and mouth of the sick to the wear! er and at the same time to prevent germ-laden air and droplets from the nose and mouth of the wearer from reaching the sick, and comprises a.

textile fabric member which is adapted to fit over and cover the wearers nose and mouth and has tapes at the sides thereof for encircling the wearers head and holding the mask in place. One object of the inventionis to providea mask of this type which is an improvement upon,

and is more'efiicint than, previously designed masks for the same purpose by reason of the fact that it embodiesa piece of moisture-proof-f-Cellophane which is affixed to one side=of,- and is coextensive with, the nose 'and mou'th-protecting,

textile fabric member,- and serves effectively to prevent'the passage of air and droplets through the textile fabric member. Another object of the invention is to provide a, mask of the last mentioned character in which the. piece of moisture-proof "Cellophane which forms a facing for one side of the textilejfabric member and is coextensive with the latter is connected permanently to, and is in the nature of a lamination of, the member so that it is inseparable from the member and givesthe latter the proper or desired stiffness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mask of the type and characterunder consideration in which the upper portion of the member having the piece of moisture-proof "Cellophane laminatedithereto is provided with two wedge-shaped infoldments which are stitched at the upper ends thereof to form tucks whereby the upper portion of the member is shaped to conform to the wearers nose. I

Another object of the invention is to provide amask for the purpose setforth and of the character last mentioned in which the upper portion of the nose and mouth-protecting member is provided with a wire reinforcement which is shaped to bridge the wearers nose and forms a seal whereby air cannot escape upwardly above the nose where it is likely to becloud eye glasses on the wearers nose.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a mask in which the nose and mouth-pro- More particularly, the inventecting, textile fabric member has a rounded or convexly curved bottom margin'so as to conform generally to the contour of the wearers chin and is associated with a second member which is connected to the lower portion of, and is formed 6- of the samematerial as, the nose and mouthprotecting member, and is adapted to underlie the wearers chin so as to hold the mask in place and'to catch' any droplets which may accumulate at, or run downwardly to, the bottom :0

margin ofthe mouth and nose-protecting member.

A further object of'the inventioniis to provide a mask of the aforementioned type in which certain portions of theside' parts of the chin- 15 engaging member are cutout to provide openings or spaces at the sides of the maskthrough which thewearer of the mask may readily breathe: without the possibility of disseminating germs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a mask of the lastmentioned character in which the chin-engaging member is stitched v to the bottom margin of the nose and mouthprotecting member and the stitched margins of the two members are covered by tape, the ends 25 of which are extended to and joined tofthe main-mask-holding tape.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a facial mask for use by physicians,

surgeons, nurses and other'sick room attendants which is generally of an improved construction and may be manufactured at sucha low cost that it-is practical for the user to use it but once and then throw it away or otherwise dispose of it.-

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the presentf l mask construction will be apparent from a con-Q sideration of the following detailed description. The invention consists 'in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are 40 l more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. s In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote correspending parts throughout the several views:

engaging member;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective of the wire, nose bridge-forming reinforcement in the upper portion of the nose and mouth-protecting member;

Figure 5a, is an enlarged detail section showing the manner in which the wire reinforcement is mounted at the upper portion of the nose and mouth-protecting member;

Figure 6 is a perspective of a mask designed primarily for use by nurses and in instances where but limited protection is needed; Y

Figure '7 is a sideview of the mask of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a rear view; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged vertical section exhibiting the construction and character of the nose and mouth-protecting member and. the chinengaging member, and the manner in which these two members are secured together.

The mask which is shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 5a of the drawings and represents one form of the invention is adapted primarily to be used by surgeons although it may, of course, be worn by physicians, dentists, nurses and other sick room attendants or for any desired purpose. It

operates to prevent transmission or contraction of communicable diseases or otherinfectious matters by excluding from the wearers respiratory tract, germ-laden air running from the nose and mouth of the sick and by preventing germ-laden .air and droplets from the wearer's nose and mouth from being transmitted to the sick, that is, the person or persons being treated or attended by the wearer of the mask. The mask is essentially of simple design and consists of a readily flexible, main member It! for protecting the wearers nose and mouth and a crescent-shaped, chin-engaging member I l'. I

The main member ID is adapted tofit over the wearers nose, mouth and cheeks, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and is provided with a tape I! at the upper margin thereof. The

upper portion of the member 10 is of greater. width than the lower portion so that it not only covers the cheeks but extends almost to the ears. In the center of the upper portion of the member l0, two wedge-shaped infoldments 13 are provided. These infoldments are stitched at the upper ends thereof to form tucks whereby the upper portion of the member ID is s'haped to conform to the nose of the wearer of the mask. The bottom portion of the member I is designed so that it extends to the bottom of, and covers, the

chin of the wearer of the maskand has a rounded or convexly curved, bottom margin in order that it conforms to the contour of the wearers chin. The member ID is formed of readily flexible, compositely made material which consists of an inner facing ll of any suitable textile fabric, such as gauze, and an outer facing l of moistureproof Cellophane. This material is formed by sheeting. the facing l5 directly onto a strip of gauze as the Cellophane leaves the former heads during manufacture thereof, in order that the facing 15 is permanently attached to the gauze facing ll throughout the entire area of the contacting or abutting faces thereof. The material is what may be termed laminated Cellophane and gauze and is characterized by the fact that the Cellophane" facing strengthens and gives rigidity to the gauze facing I. By virtue of the fact that the nose and mouth-protecting member ID embodies the outer facing I5 of moisture-proof Cellophane, the mask is non-porous and no germs can pass either inwardly to the respiratory tract of the wearer of the mask or outwardly through the member ID to the patient being treated by the one wearing the mask. Furthermore, moisture or droplets from the nose or mouth of the wearer of the mask cannot pass through the member in. Because of the absorptive property of the inner facing IQ of gauze, all droplets from the wearers nose and mouth are absorbed by the inner facing and hence infectious matter is prevented by the mask from be ing transmitted from the wearer of the mask to the person being treated by the mask wearer. By employing a gauze inner facing, the mask is extremely comfortable to the wearer. The tape I2 is formed of any suitable textile fabric and is preferably folded upon itself in a lengthwise direction so that it is of double thickness. It is coextensive with the top margin of the member ID and is connected to the latter by stitching Hi. In attaching the tape l2 to the upper portion of the nose and mouth-protecting member ID of the mask, the tape is folded around the top margm of the member ID and then the stitching I6 is formed so that the loops thereof pass through the tape and the top margin ofthe member I I.

In order to reinforce the member l0 and at the same time to form a nose bridge for holding the mask in place, a wire H is disposed in the channel or space between the folded portions of v the tape l2 (see Figure 5a). This wire is coextensive with the upper portion of the member In and has the central portion thereof bent into the form of an arch or bridge for nose engaging purposes. The bridge-forming portion of the wire is adapted when in its operative position on the nose of the wearer of the mask to assist in holding the mask in place and to form a seal whereby the breath of the mask wearer cannot pass upwardly into the wearers eyes or around glasses on the wearers nose where it might'becloud such glasses. The ends of the wire I1 terminate at the end portions of the member ID and serve as a reinforcement for .the mask. The wire is formed of readily bendable metal so that the nose bridge portion may be bent to fit noses of difierent shapes.

2 of the drawings, and has the front margin thereof curved substantially conformably to the bottom margin of the member ID and united to the latter by stitching 20. A pocket 2| is formed between the members In and H and this pocket is so shaped because of the curvature or roundness of the stitched margins of the two members, that it fits the chin of the wearer of' the mask in a snug fashion. In the event of .accumulation of moisture or droplets in the pocket, such moisture and droplets are absorbed by the gauzeinner facing l8 ofthe member ll. When the mask is not in use, the member H assumes.

the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. When the chin-engaging member II is in this position, the mask occupies but a small amount of space and may be readily. stacked with other masks of like character.

To provide for ready breathing of the wearer of the mask, the side portions of the chin-engaging member II are cut away to form a pair of openings 22. These, openings are located in the margin of the member II which isstitched to the bottom margin of the members I0, and are so positioned that the wearer's breath is directed laterally. c

-A tape 23 serves to support the mask in its operative position. The central portion of this tape is folded in a lengthwise direction around the contacting or contiguous margins of the members III and II, as shown in Figure 4, and is secured in place by means of thestitching 20. In forming the mask, the member I I is placed on the member III so that the inner facing. II abuts against the gauze facing it of the member III and the two curved marginsof the members coincide. Thereafter, the central portion of the tape 23 is foldedle hwise around the rounded margins of the two'members and the stitching 20 is formed by passing the loops thereof through the tape and the two members. The ends of the tape 22 are sufliciently long so that they may be placedover the ears of the-wearer ofthe mask and then tied around the back of the wearer's head. When the ends of the tape 23 are tied togetherin this manner, the members III and II are held in their proper positions.

In applying the mask, the chin-engaging member II is first swung away from the member II) in order to open the pocket 2| Thereafter, the chin-engaging member is placed under the wear- --ers chin and the member III is swung into place over and across the mouth and lower portion of the nose. After the members I and II are properly positioned thearch or bridge part of but do not the wire I! ismoved inwardly so that the users nose-is securely EI DPd.1"After this is dOne, he

ends of the tape-23 are passed over the wearers' ears and behind thehead and are then tied in the openin s .22 provide for breathing allowytheb'reath-iof the wearer of the mask to flow. downwardly; All moisture and droplets are absorbed-or caught by thegauze inner facings of the members I0 and II, as heretofore pointed out,"and the respiratory tract of the wearerof the maskis protected against germs by way of the outer memes I5 and I9 of moisis in place,

ture-proof "Cellophane".

The mask whichis shownin Figures 6, 7, a, and 9. and' represents another form of the invention is adapted primarily for by nurses and other sick room attendants, and comprises a readily I normally spaced'from the wearer's cheeks a sulfi- Cellophane".

' ,fiexible -mainmember' H0 and a chin-engaging member III. Theiupper -portion of the member III] is of less width than the lower portion and hasqdownwardly divergent side edges'which are cient distanceito permit of ready breathing of the wearer of the mask.- The member 5 is formed of composite material and consists of an inner facing lltand'anouter facing I it of moisture-proof The inner facing is formed. of

Canton flannel instead ofgau ze as in the case of the inner facing ll of the mask of Figures 1, 2, 3,

4, 5, and 5a, and the. outer facing 5 of Cellophane is permanently attached to the inner facing as in the case of the outer facing I5 of the member I0 of the mask first described. The chinengaging member III is formed of the same material as the main member I I0 and forms a pocket mouth from being ing or contiguous margins of the members III) and III are secured together 'by'meanfs of stitching I20 and a. tape I23. The centralportion of this tape is secured to the bottom portion of the main member III) by means of the stitching I20 and the ends extend upwardly and are connected in any suitable manner to a tape I I 2. The latter has the central portion thereof stitched to the upper portion of the main member I I0 and the ends thereof are extended so as to form the supporting'medium .or The ends of the tape-I23 are joined or connected to the ends of the tape 2 at points between the extreme end parts of the tape 2 and the upper portion of the member III. By so connecting the ends of the tape I28, the lower'portion ofthe main member Ill as well as the chin-engaging member III, is held in place when the ends of the tape I I2 are tied around the back of the head of the wearer of the mask. A wire II! is confined in the central portion of the tape 2 which is applied to the upper ber H0 and is arched so as to form a nose bridge for the mask. This bridge; like the bridge of the mask. of Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 5a, forms a seal whereby the breath of the wearer of the mask-is precluded from passing upwardly.

'I'he'mask of Figures 6, 7, 8, and 9 is applied similarly .to the first described mask and operates to prevent transmissionor contraction of communicable diseases or other infectious, matters by excluding from the wearer's respiratory tractgerm-laden air running from the nose and mouth of the sick and by preventing gem-laden air and droplets from the wearer's nose and transmitted to the sick, that is, the person or persons being treated or attended by the wearer of the mask. Because of the absorptive properties of theCanton flannel which is used to form the inner facings oi the main member H0 and the chin-engaging member III,

. [all dro 1 ois f h order-toholdthe mask inplace. when the mask p ets or m mm t e wearers nose and mouth are absorbed and hence precluded from leaving the mas The herein described mask constructions are "exceedingly eflicient in operation and may be claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Pat- .ent, is;

1. As a new article of manufacture, a mask comprising a readily flexible member adapted to cover the wearer's nose and mouth and consisting of inner and outer, coextensive, abutting facings formed respectively of textile fabric and moisture-proof "Ce1lophane and united permanently together throughout the entire contracting area thereof, and means for in its operative position.

2.'As a -new article of manufacture, a mask comprising a readilyflexible. main member adapted to cover the wearers nose and mouth and formed of inner and outer coextensive, abutting facings formed respectively of textile fabric and "Cellophane" type material and united permainstrumentality for the mask.

supporting the member portion of the main mem- I nently together throughout their entire contact :ing area, a separately formed second member of flexible, moisture.absorbing material adapted to underlie the wearers chin and having the front margin thereof secured to the bottom margin of the main member, and tape means for securing the two members in their operative position.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a mask comprising a readily flexible, main member adapted to cover the wearers nose and mouth and. having a rcunded bottom margin corresponding generally to the contour of the wearers chin and formed of inner 'and outer, coextensive, abutting facings formed respectively of textile fabric and moisture-proof Cellophane and united permanently together throughout their entire contacting area, a separately formed, readily flexible, cresent shaped member of the. same material as the main member adapted to underlie the wearer's chin and having the convex margin means for securing the two members in their 10 operative position.

SAMUEL J. GOLDSMITH. 

